Married For Life: A Question of Interpretation Within Marriage

Interpretation of the concept married for life may vary considerably depending upon your personal belief system, upbringing and culture. Because of the wide range of possible interpretation, married for life can prove to be problematic for young people who are planning marriage in the future, or even married couples.

The web site married for life.net suggests that, "The more you are honest and deal with your true reality, the better your chances are of dealing with it constructively before it is too late."

Married for life often includes the statement until death do us part, but what does until death do us part mean? Those who are serious about their martial vows, understand the concept of being married for life as signifying the formation of an unbreakable vow, bond or relationship with the person to whom they are to be married, or are married.

This can be subject to different levels of interpretation, as well. For example, married for life may mean that only the actual, physical death of a spouse can sever a marital relationship. Some see married for life with until death do us part, as extending further than physical death or into a spiritual, eternal permanence.

Is there a difference between a spiritual and a natural marriage?

Yes, there is a difference, which may or may not be recognized or acknowledged by potential or actual spouses. In other words, is the union indicative of oneness in the spirit or only oneness in the flesh? With respect to being married for life, how seriously marital vows are taken may depend to some extent upon whether or not a true spiritual union or a natural union is intended, or has taken place.

The issue of marital fidelity is an important aspect of the understanding of being married for life.

Fidelity can prove problematic when prospective spouses or actual spouses do not have the same understanding of the meaning and significance of fidelity. In other words, while one person sees fidelity as an important aspect of being married for life, the other person may or may not perceive it in the same way. For example, a man may see his position in a marriage as being free from the bonds of fidelity, while at the same time, he expects his spouse to be faithful to him. This kind of marriage is likely to fail.

In terms of being married for life, another important aspect of it has to do with the love relationship.

In other words, is true love at the heart of the married for life relationship? Because there are so many different kinds of love and pseudo-love, there may or may not be the kind of love that is instrumental in keeping a lifelong, marital relationship intact. Godly love, as opposed to human love, can make a huge difference when it comes to being married for life.

Does loss of infatuation or interest in someone else constitute sufficient reason to end a married for life relationship?

Unfortunately, there are those who understand marriage for life as having an unwritten, unless or until clause. For example, this may mean married for life unless or until, someone better comes along. Circumstances change as well, and there are those who end marriages that are supposed to be married for life relationships based upon these kinds of changes.

Realistically, married for life is an ideal. Agreeing to enter into a married for life relationship is an ideal commitment to a spouse.

At the same time, marital life often takes unexpected turns and marital pathways may change. The original understanding of being married for life may change with respect to one or the other spouse. At times, there are no easy answers for those who become embroiled in controversial marital relationships of various kinds.

Premarital counseling can often make a difference for those who are planning marriage. Marital counseling, when there are problems or differences encountered, may also prove beneficial with respect to being married for life. Striving for an ideal is the right thing to do, but forgiveness goes a long way when it comes to the imperfection of broken, married for life relationships.